“No Easy Fix!” Max Verstappen Flags Major Red Bull Problems at Suzuka

Max Verstappen bluntly accepts that there are no easy fixes to Red Bull's current turmoil as they suffer from problematic pace in Japan as well.

“No Easy Fix!” Max Verstappen Flags Major Red Bull Problems at Suzuka

Max Verstappen (via Red Bull Content Pool)

In Short
  • Max Verstappen is experiencing the worst start to a season in his F1 career, finishing P7 and P10 in practice sessions at the Japanese GP.
  • He acknowledges that there may be no easy fixes for Red Bull's ongoing car problems, particularly in medium- to high-speed corners.
  • Verstappen urges the team to remain realistic about their ambitions for the 2026 season, noting they are not at the same competitive level as previous years.

Max Verstappen‘s nightmare does not seem to end despite continuous efforts from Red Bull and Co. The Dutchman is suffering from the worst start to a season in his F1 career. Moreover, Verstappen has faced similar problems during the Japanese GP testing sessions. Now, the four-time champion accepts that there is no easy fix to the whirlwind of problems for the Austrian constructor.

Even at the Japanese GP, Max Verstappen finished in P7 and P10 in the first two practice sessions. Verstappen has remained one of the biggest critics of the new regulations following intense struggles. Now, the Japanese practice session was no different, as the Dutchman couldn’t make any notable progress.

Now, Max Verstappen candidly accepts that there might be no fixes to the problems of Red Bull’s RB22 challenger in 2026. Verstappen continued that he suffered from two opposite problems, and the team couldn’t get the car together at all. Ultimately, he bled a lot of lap time as Milton Keynes suffered from extreme problems in both directions.

We just struggled a lot more with the balance of the car, grip, I had two opposites today and the problem is that we never get it together, basically. You go from one extreme to another extreme. And that is just bleeding a lot of lap time.

Max Verstappen said, as reported by motorsport.com.

Though Max Verstappen accepted that the problems weren’t as dramatic as witnessed in China, they were still evident. He pointed out that the team was unaware of the reasons behind the problems. Verstappen revealed that they needed to be improved over the medium and high-speed corners. The four-time champion is sure that these things won’t be fixed easily or overnight ahead of the Japanese GP.

Not similar to China, but we’re still off. We’re still not really understanding why we’re that far off in sector one. Basically, medium- to high-speed [corners]. That’s something that we need to work on. I don’t think it’s an easy fix overnight. A few things that are not going right at the moment.

Max Verstappen added.

Max Verstappen urges Red Bull to remain ‘realistic’ over ambitions in 2026

During the previous Japanese GP in 2025, Max Verstappen pulled off a stellar lap during the Qualifying session. Moreover, he led the race up front and achieved his first victory of the season. Now, Verstappen isn’t dreaming of performing like he did last year, as the regulations are much different. The 28-year-old reveals the realistic results that the team can expect this time around.

Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)
Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)

Max Verstappen accepted that he did not think much about the previous years and how he achieved victory in 2025. He emphasized that Red Bull needed to be realistic with their goals for the Japanese GP. Moreover, Verstappen acknowledged that the team was nowhere near the same level as they were in the previous years. As such, the four-time champion looks forward to where Milton Keynes will end up against the rivals in Japan.

I don’t really think about the previous years, because every year is different. We have to be realistic, of course, that we are nowhere near that kind of level anymore. I just go into the weekend, and see where we will be.

Max Verstappen told Verstappen.com.

Thankfully, Red Bull will have over five-weeks to work on their challenger because of the Middle Eastern GPs being cancelled amid the ongoing war. Certainly, Max Verstappen isn’t delighted with the current situation and is looking for an out from the problems. Only time will tell how Verstappen copes with the massive issues and performs well over the season.

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